Czechia

The Coca-Cola Truck is Coming to the Czech Republic!

The Coca-Cola truck is making its way to the Czech Republic and Slovakia this Christmas! ​Coca-Cola’s ‘The Real Magic Christmas Experience’ is coming to over 30 cities in the Czech Republic and 20 in Slovakia. The theme of the Christmas campaign, “Christmas Always Finds a Way”, is based on the idea that “Christmas is an unstoppable force that will find a way through anything to bring back the joy, togetherness, generosity and true magic around the festive season and holiday food”. The trucks, which were first introduced in 1995, will also support the campaign after a hiatus caused by the pandemic. It will also include collaborations with influencers, such as Czech group Mirai, and a competition on the Coca-Cola app to win a trip to the North Pole. “Coca-Cola trucks have become a popular tradition that brings Christmas magic to Czech and Slovak cities. Christmas always finds a way to bring families, friends and often complete strangers together through magical moments spent together,” says Mária Drotárová, Coca-Cola brand manager for the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The roadshow in the Czech Republic will start on 24 November in Čáslav and end on 22 December in Stupava. At each stop, there will be...

 by Prague Morning Nov 10, 2024

Is Housing in Czechia Really Unaffordable? A Regional Breakdown Beyond Prague

The “housing affordability crisis” is a frequent topic in Czech newspapers and political debates, but is housing truly unaffordable across the entire country? We examined the cost of buying an apartment for a Prague resident versus a resident in the Karlovy Vary region, uncovering stark differences in housing access between Prague and other regions. Prague’s Housing Crisis: Not Representative of All Czechia Housing (un)affordability is typically evaluated by looking at the number of newly built apartments. However, new apartments from the past thirty years make up only about 10% of all housing stock in Czechia, most of which are in Prague. Consequently, the high cost of housing in the capital skews the perception of nationwide affordability. In reality, housing supply hasn’t kept up with demand in Prague, leading to persistently high prices. To gain a realistic picture of housing affordability across Czechia, it’s essential to consider smaller towns and regions outside of Prague, as well as older housing stock, which makes up the bulk of available homes. The Cost of a Typical Apartment: Prague vs. Regions For comparison, let’s consider a standard 70-square-meter apartment in an older building. Such apartments are common across Czechia in both panel and brick houses....

 by Prague Morning Nov 09, 2024

American Fast-Food Giant Popeyes to Open 60 More Restaurants in Czechia

The American fast-food chain Popeyes has unveiled plans to establish 60 new restaurants across the Czech Republic by 2033, aiming to strengthen its presence in Central Europe. Popeyes operates three locations in Prague and the Central Bohemian Region, with new branches set to open soon in Brno. The company’s first restaurant in Czechia opened just last year in Wenceslas Square. Popeyes’ ambitious expansion strategy includes opening branches in key regional cities, shopping centers, and along major highways. “Opening a new restaurant can take several months or even up to two years, especially when we target prime locations,” explained Marko Blaževič, Popeyes’ director for Central and Eastern Europe. Popeyes faces strong competition from fast-food heavyweights already established in the Czech market. McDonald’s operates 124 restaurants across the country, while KFC, part of the AmRest group, runs 128 locations as of last year. Another AmRest brand, Burger King, operates 33 outlets, while Pizza Hut has a presence in 16 locations. Five Guys and Wendy’s Enter the Czech Market The competitive landscape of American fast food in Czechia is intensifying as Five Guys prepares to open its first branch this autumn in the recently renovated Máj department store in Prague. Additionally, Wendy’s announced...

 by Prague Morning Nov 06, 2024

Czech President Allows 60 Citizens to Join Ukraine’s Armed Forces

Sixty Czech citizens have attained official permission to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Novinky.cz reports that this was announced by Filip Platoš, President Petr Pavel’s spokesman, as reported by European Pravda The spokesman noted that so far, Petr Pavel has approved 60 applications from Czech citizens who asked to be allowed to defend Ukraine as part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in agreement with the ministries of defense, interior and foreign affairs. A total of 181 such requests have been received. Czech citizens are prohibited from joining a foreign army without the permission of the Czech president, which is a criminal offense. However, for those who have already done so, there is an opportunity to obtain permission retroactively. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova responded by commenting that the Czech president “clearly does not need” the citizens he released as volunteers to Ukraine. Officially, four Czechs fighting for Ukraine as volunteers were killed in action. Among them is Karel Kucera, who was posthumously awarded the Medal for Heroism by President Petr Pavel on Czech Independence Day. Karel traveled to Ukraine without official permission, having not received consent from then-President Miloš Zeman. This week, it became known that two more...

 by Prague Morning Nov 03, 2024

Freezing Temperatures Set to Hit Czechia: Full Forecast for the Week

The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute has released its forecast for the upcoming week, predicting a significant dip in temperatures with frost setting in across the country. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the weather you can expect. Monday: The week begins with partly cloudy to clear skies, though fog and frost may appear in the early morning and evening. Intervals of cloud cover are likely during the day, with occasional light drizzle. Overnight lows will plummet to around -3°C, while daytime temperatures are expected to hover between 8°C and 12°C. Tuesday and Wednesday: A cold front will push in by Tuesday, bringing cloudier skies and further temperature drops. Expect daytime highs to settle between 4°C and 8°C. Nighttime temperatures will dip below freezing, while areas that catch some sunshine during the day may see temps rise to around 10°C. Thursday: Sunny intervals return on Thursday with clear to partly cloudy skies and patches of morning fog. Daytime highs should rebound slightly to 12°C, though areas blanketed by low clouds may stay cooler, around 5°C. Friday and the Weekend: Friday through Sunday will bring a mix of clouds and sun, with early fog and frost likely, especially in the morning. Overnight temperatures will...

 by Prague Morning Nov 03, 2024

Join Movember: A Moustache Movement to Support Men’s Health

On November 1, 2024, Movember officially kicks off—a global movement spotlighting the prevention of prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and men’s mental health. What started as a small initiative among a few Australian surfers has since evolved into a worldwide campaign, with millions participating to support men’s health by growing moustaches in solidarity. In the Czech Republic, the campaign is led by the Men Against Cancer Foundation (NF MPR). In Prague, Movember launched on October 31 with a public exhibition in front of Prague’s City Hall at Mariánské Square. This display, featuring sixteen informative panels, aims to educate the public on critical topics surrounding prostate and testicular cancer prevention. Supported by Prague’s Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda and Deputy Mayor Alexandra Udženija, the exhibit will be accessible until November 27. Mayor Svoboda emphasized the campaign’s impact: “Movember serves as a visible reminder to promote a healthy lifestyle and awareness about conditions like testicular and prostate cancer. Whether or not you’re a fan of moustaches, consider embracing them this month to support this important cause.” Deputy Mayor Udženija added, “November is the time for moustaches to grow and for awareness to spread. Thanks to Movember, men’s health issues are no longer taboo. Just as...

 by Prague Morning Nov 01, 2024

Ending Period Poverty in Czech Schools? New Initiative by People in Need Expands

Period poverty has become an urgent issue in the Czech Republic, and many schools are stepping up to tackle it. Starting after the autumn holidays, free menstrual products will be provided in the bathrooms of 60 schools nationwide, thanks to an initiative by the People in Need organization. The program began with pilot installations in select schools last year, such as Mojžíř Elementary School in Ústí nad Labem. Despite initial hesitations, the school joined People in Need’s Reproductive Health of Girls and Women initiative, which aims to assist students facing economic hardships. Period poverty is a very real concern for many families, as observed in People in Need’s social and educational programs. Adéla Pospíchalová, Head of Educational Services for the organization, shared a common scenario: “Some families, like single mothers with multiple daughters, struggle to allocate even a few hundred crowns a month for hygiene products. Even two-parent households, where both parents work, can sometimes find themselves near the poverty line.” In addition to the schools already on board, People in Need delivered menstrual baskets to 60 schools across the Czech Republic over the autumn holidays. Schools in regions like Liberec, Karlovy Vary, Ústí nad Labem, Pilsen, Olomouc, and Central Bohemia...

 by Prague Morning Oct 29, 2024

Czechia Signs Historic Treaty on Relations with the Vatican

The Czech Republic signed a treaty with the Vatican, ensuring religious freedom and recognising Catholic marriages. It needs parliamentary approval to take effect. The Czech Republic signed a treaty on Thursday regarding its relations with the Vatican, becoming one of the last European Union countries to do so. The document was signed Thursday in Prague by conservative Prime Minister Petr Fiala and the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Fiala called it a “balanced” document that “fully respects our legal order.” The full text was not expected to be made public until after the treaty is ratified. Among its provisions, the country guarantees the freedom of thought, conscience, and religious belief and recognizes Catholic marriages. It also gives a legal ground for the Catholic Church to provide religious services in hospitals, prisons, military, and police forces. To come into effect, the document still needs to be approved by both houses of Parliament and ratified by President Petr Pavel. The Vatican has signed a similar treaty with 25 EU member states and a total of 64 countries worldwide, the Czech government said. Fiala’s coalition government, sworn in following the 2021 general election, said in its policy statement that it was ready to...

 by Prague Morning Oct 29, 2024

Dušičky: All Souls’ Day in the Czech Republic

All Souls’ Day – the day of remembrance for friends and loved ones who have passed away – has great significance in the Czech Republic. Dušičky – or “Little Souls” – as it is called in Czech is an annual pilgrimage that has taken place since pagan times. The official Czech name is Památka zesnulých (“a remembrance of those who have passed”), but everyone calls the day dušičky (“little souls”) or všech svatých (“of all saints”). Activities of the day include attending church services and lighting candles on the graves of the dead and those we remember. Czechs will lay wreaths and flowers at the grave and spend time honoring those who have passed with remembering. If you visit a cemetery in the Czech Republic during this time, you will immediately note the flickering glow of hundreds of freshly lit candles making the entire area aglow in a very holy way. You can visit the biggest graveyard in Prague – Olšany Cemetery (Olšanské hřbitovy in Czech).  Here are some images of what a Czech All Soul’s Day looks like.   The November 2nd tradition The tradition of visiting cemeteries on November 2 hails from the 10th century, when, during 998, Abbot Odilo of Cluny, France, made that specific...

 by Cara Stevenson Oct 29, 2024

On This Day, in 1918: the Independence of Czechoslovakia Was Proclaimed

On October 28, 1918, the independence of Czechoslovakia was proclaimed by the Czechoslovak National Council in Prague, following the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire during the First World War. The birth of Czechoslovakia Throughout the 19th century, the rise of nationalist movements, mounting ethnic tensions and repressive religious and ethnic policies, such as the forced Magyarization of Slovaks, pushed the cohesion of the multi-national Austro-Hungarian Empire to its breaking point. Despite cultural differences, the Slovaks shared similar aspirations with the Czechs for independence from the Habsburg state, and by the start of the 20th century, the idea of a “Czecho-Slovak” entity, advocated by Czech and Slovak intellectuals began to emerge. During the First World War, Tomáš Masaryk, Edvard Beneš and Slovak astronomer Milan Rastislav Štefánik founded the Czechoslovak National Council who worked to secure Allied recognition. During that time, more than 90,000 Czech and Slovak volunteers formed the Czechoslovak Legions in Russia, France and Italy, where they fought against the Central Powers. Following the Pittsburgh Agreement of May 1918, which prescribed the intent to create an independent Czechoslovakia, the Czechoslovak Declaration of independence was signed by Masaryk, Štefánik and Beneš on October 18, 1918, in Paris. The independence of Czechoslovakia...

 by Prague Morning Oct 28, 2024

October 28th: Which Shops and Shopping Centers Will Be Open or Closed?

On October 28, 2024, Czechia commemorates Independence Day, marking the founding of an independent Czechoslovakia. This year, the holiday falls on a Monday, and many stores across the country will be impacted by legal closures. According to Czech law, retail stores with a sales area over 200 m² must remain closed on this day. Here’s what you need to know about which stores will be closed, which will remain open, and alternative shopping options. Where to Expect Store Closures Retail chains with large locations, including supermarkets and hypermarkets, will be closed on Monday, October 28. This includes major chains like Albert, Billa, Globus, Kaufland, Lidl, Penny, and Tesco, as well as Tesco Expres outlets. However, small stores with a sales area under 200 m², as well as certain essential locations, will continue operating. This includes: Airports and train/bus stations: Stores in transit hubs will remain open. Pharmacies: Pharmacies are exempt and will stay open. Gas stations: Most gas station shops, including select Tesco at fuel stations, will open from 9:00 to 17:00. Online shopping remains an option, with platforms like Rohlík.cz, Košík.cz, Albert Online, and Billa Online available for holiday orders. Tesco Online services, however, will not be operational, as...

 by Prague Morning Oct 26, 2024

A Bold Experiment: Prague City to Give Homeless People CZK 100,000 Each

What would happen if a homeless individual received CZK 100,000 with no restrictions on its use? The answer to this question may become clear in about a year as Prague City embarks on an ambitious social experiment, the New Leaf Czech Republic project. This initiative, launched to help people experiencing homelessness, is a first for Europe and is gaining significant attention both locally and internationally. For many, this approach might seem controversial—directly providing funds to individuals without conditions challenges traditional methods of addressing homelessness. The issue has been long-standing, with organizations like the OECD frequently highlighting the Czech Republic’s struggles with homelessness. In Czech society, homelessness is rarely talked about openly and is often reduced to stereotypes of drunk, unkempt people gathered around Prague’s main train station. Yet, behind this perception lies a hidden reality: many who are homeless end up in this difficult position due to unforeseen hardships, such as the loss of a spouse, and now struggle to afford housing. A Fresh Approach to Homelessness in Europe “The Czech Republic is the first European country to undertake such a project,” explains Jana Hamplová, director of the organization Neposeda. “The initiative was first trialed in Canada, where it achieved...

 by Prague Morning Oct 25, 2024

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